The People’s School program, also known as “Sekolah Rakyat,” is a new initiative launched by President Prabowo Subianto aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty through education. This program officially began in the 2025/2026 academic year with student orientation on July 14. It is a key component of Indonesia’s vision to create a strong human capital base for the Golden Indonesia 2045 agenda.
Sekolah Rakyat is a fully-funded boarding school program specifically designed for children from impoverished households. Many families in the lowest income bracket lack access to quality education due to financial constraints, despite public schools being tuition-free. Hidden costs such as transportation, uniforms, and school supplies are still burdensome for these families, making quality education unaffordable.
Poverty not only restricts access to education but also to healthcare and proper infrastructure. Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that millions of people in Indonesia live below the poverty line, hindering the country’s development goals. President Prabowo launched the Sekolah Rakyat program to ensure that children from vulnerable backgrounds have access to quality education without the financial burden.
The program aims not only to provide equal access to education but also to equip students with life skills based on their talents and potentials. The goal is to empower students to enter the workforce or start their own businesses, uplifting themselves, their families, and their communities. President Prabowo has emphasized the importance of executing Sekolah Rakyat with precision, integrity, and genuine impact, as these students are expected to become young leaders contributing to Indonesia’s Golden Vision 2045.
